Center for Regional Food Systems

What is 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms? 

10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms (10 Cents a Meal) is a statewide local food purchasing incentive that provides matching grants to pay for Michigan-grown produce and dry beans, as well as local food transportation fees and food service labor expenses. 

Since this program launched as a pilot in 2016, a core Michigan team has supported it: the Michigan Department of Education administers the program; the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development assists with agricultural connections; the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities provides communications and advocacy support; and CRFS provides programmatic evaluation each year.  

Who can participate? 

Schools, early care and education (ECE) sites, and other organizations that participate in eligible Child Nutrition Programs can apply each year to this state funded program, pending the state K – 12 budget.  

This program launched as a regional pilot with state funding in the 2016-2017 school year, and as of the 2020-2021 school year, eligibility expanded to every county in Michigan.  

Review this resource to see all of the participating 10 Cents a Meal grantees from 2016-2017 to 2023-2024. 

To learn more about 10 Cents, visit tencentsmichigan.org.